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The Information Hub
Heathrow Special

Clear, simple information - backed up with comprehensive research and data. (more)
The Airports Commission has today (1 July 2015) published its Final report, which sets out its recommendations to government for expanding aviation capacity in the UK. The purpose of this section of the Information Hub is to focus on the truth about airport expansion in the UK, in particular the recent proposals for Heathrow.

Is more capacity required?

In a sense, the answer is partly in the way in which the question was asked. David Cameron asked the Airports Commission to explore how the UK could retain its position as a global aviation hub. Not why. Just how.

That said, the answer is usually along the lines of: a hub airport could deliver the long-haul connections to emerging growth markets that would underpin high-value exports and inward investment.

Demand for air travel is projected to grow, and the whole process of the Airports Commission assumes that the right thing to do is to meet that (projected) growing demand.

There are, however, many environmental, and other arguments which suggest that this is either not sensible or not necessary. For example: aviation does not meet the full external costs generated by its own activities (noise and pollution) and fails to pay for direct costs generated by the activity itself (eg the motorway links to Manchester and Heathrow airports), and yet aviation fuel is not taxed and a great deal of public money at EU and UK levels goes into air traffic control systems. (more)

Where do we need more capacity?

The Commission has unanimously concluded that the proposal for a new northwest runway at Heathrow Airport, combined with a significant package of measures to address its environmental and community impacts, presents the strongest case and offers the greatest strategic and economic benefits – providing around 40 new destinations from the airport and more than 70,000 new jobs by 2050.

The Commission suggests that there should be conditions if the government decides to bild aHeathrow’s third runway

The conditions in full

  • A ban on all scheduled night flights from 11.30pm to 6am.
  • No fourth runway – the government should make a firm commitment in parliament not to expand further. Davies states: “There is no sound operational or environmental case for a fourth runway.”
  • A legally binding “noise envelope”.
  • A noise levy on airport users to compensate local communities.
  • A legal commitment on air quality (details to be announced, compliant with EU limits).
  • A community engagement board to let local people have a say.
  • An independent aviation noise authority to be consulted on flightpaths and operating procedures at airports.
  • Training and apprenticeships for local people.

 

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